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Adapted from Daniel Keyes's novel Flowers for Algernon, Charly must be viewed as a soap opera of and for its zeitgeist--the halcyon '60s, when "natural" was nirvana, the air hummed with the mantra "Everybody's beautiful," and all ills stemmed from institutional monoliths such as Science, Government, Education, Religion. Accordingly, Charly (Cliff Robertson) is a 30-year-old retardate whose doofus sweetness makes him superior to most able-minded folk, whether they're the bigoted dolts he sweeps floors for or the ambitious scientists who see him as the human equivalent of Algernon, a mouse they've surgically (but impermanently) smartened up. Naturally, post-op Charly, sporting a genius IQ, "sees things as they are." Trotted out as the neurosurgeons' poster boy, he stands up to the "learned" audience--shot as faceless, inhuman interrogators. He's every '60s flower child, berating his "elders" for blighting their brave new world.
The one gift Charly gets out of becoming Brainiac is sex. In a lengthy montage resembling a retro TV commercial, he and his special-ed teacher (Claire Bloom, madonna with eternal Mona Lisa smile) romp through an Edenic outdoors, their embraces hallowed by sunlight glinting through leaves, moonlight glinting on water, and sappy Ravi Shankar music. (Stylistic clichés also include embarrassing outbreaks of split screens and multiple small screens within the frame, notably when rebellious Charly turns biker.) Robertson's performance is well-meaning but hokey. Still, in the penultimate moments when Charly begins to slide back into retardation, the actor achieves a genuine tragic gravity, and he became a surprise Oscar winner for his pains. --Kathleen Murphy
Product Description
CHARLY
Genre: Drama
Rating: PG
Release Date: 0000-00-00
Media Type: DVD
SKU:GMDB2222353
Genre: Drama
Rating: PG
Release Date: 0000-00-00
Media Type: DVD
SKU:GMDB2222353
Customer Reviews
Most helpful customer reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By Paul Waters
Format:VHS Tape
It was a great movie even thought it didn't follow the book that good. I think that Cliff Robertson did a very good job at it, but it was funny when Charlie fell in love Mrs. Kinnian because he kinda attacked her. The motor cycle part wasn't in the book and Dr. Strauss wasn't a man in the Movie but Dr. Strauss was a man in the book. Whoever said that the movie was awful stinks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I recommend that people of all ages should read the book and watch the movie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
By HH
Format:DVD
The book was required reading in high school English class, still remember the name Algernon. This movie, like so many others, deviates from the book, however, it is very well done just the same, emotional, sobering, an eye-opener. Sometimes you wonder whether this experient could very well be based on a true story some time and some way.
Cliff Robertson did an excellent job portraying Charly.
This is not a family movie because of the serious nature, depth and the violent encounter between Charly and his teacher. The movie looks dated but is good except for the distracting and annoying collage of psychedelic effects and scenes, which really took away from the film and thus the lower rating.
Cliff Robertson did an excellent job portraying Charly.
This is not a family movie because of the serious nature, depth and the violent encounter between Charly and his teacher. The movie looks dated but is good except for the distracting and annoying collage of psychedelic effects and scenes, which really took away from the film and thus the lower rating.
By Peter
Format:DVD
Very realistic. Be prepared for a tragic ending after a hopeful development.
Acting is of the highest quality.
Very realistic portraying of a medical impossibility.
Make you forget that it is actually medical science fiction.
Acting is of the highest quality.
Very realistic portraying of a medical impossibility.
Make you forget that it is actually medical science fiction.
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3.9 out of 5 stars
Most recent customer reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
tee riffic!!!! :)
i have not seen the movie but i am reading the book and it is a terrific story. i have a dog named charlie so my dad recommended the book to me, so i am already rating it 5 stars!
Published on Jun 12 2003
3.0 out of 5 stars
A psychedelic adaptation of Flowers for Algernon
I found both the short story, "Flowers for Algernon," and this film adaptation of it to be moving; but the experimental cinematography and somewhat immature storytelling... Read more
Published on Jan 23 2003 by Jaded Angry Guy
1.0 out of 5 stars
Awful!!!!
This movie is absolutely awful.I hope no one has to go through the terrible experience of watching it.The acting is bad and the book itself is boring. Read more
Published on Nov 14 2002 by "foulowl"
4.0 out of 5 stars
Rushed and Confused but Beautiful
unfortunately this film tries to push the whole wonderful story 'Flowers For Algernon' into a way too short film. Read more
Published on Nov 10 2002 by Mr. B. R. Good
1.0 out of 5 stars
disappointing
I read the book Flowers for Algernon and thoroughly enjoyed it. So I was disappointed when I watched the movie and discovered that it was so bad. Read more
Published on Nov 3 2002 by C. Hill
4.0 out of 5 stars
Cliff Robertson's Oscar winning role as Charly Gordon
"Charly" is based on Daniel Keyes's short story turned into a novel "Flowers for Algernon." The story was about Charly Gordon, a man who, in the parlance of the time, was mentally... Read more
Published on Sep 7 2002 by Lawrance M. Bernabo
4.0 out of 5 stars
Skillful science fiction drama.
One interesting aspect of CHARLY is that, altho it was based on a Hugo-winning story from a science fiction magazine, there was nothing in the advertising to suggest that it is SF. Read more
Published on July 7 2002 by Marc Russell
5.0 out of 5 stars
SCREEN ADAPTATION of FLOWERS FOR ALGERNON
It's rare that I am touched by a book and film equally. This is one such instance.
PLUS...CHARLY is cinematic genius, in my opinion. 1968 was a unique time for film. Read more
PLUS...CHARLY is cinematic genius, in my opinion. 1968 was a unique time for film. Read more
Published on April 23 2002 by Sandi Strehlau
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent film of a classic book.
Someday I'd like to film a version closer to what Daniel Keys really wrote, but for now I'll watch Cliff's any day. Read more
Published on Feb 20 2002 by Seymour
4.0 out of 5 stars
IF YOU READ FLOWERS FOR ALGERNON>>>THEN SEE THE MOVIE!
My 8th grade literature class and I read "Flowers for Algernon" together. Afterwards we watched "Charly". Read more
Published on Dec 23 2001 by K. Trinque
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